San Francisco, United States (Enmaeya News) — OpenAI and leading edtech company Instructure announced a partnership Wednesday to integrate generative AI into Canvas, a widely used learning platform in thousands of high schools and colleges.
Canvas by Instructure is a cloud-based Learning Management System (LMS) used by schools, universities, and educational institutions around the world. With over 30 million users across more than 100 countries, it stands as one of the most widely adopted platforms globally—and the number one LMS in North America.
The collaboration aims to help teachers design interactive lessons, assess student performance more effectively, and streamline administrative tasks through AI-powered tools embedded directly in the app.
Melissa Loble, Chief Academic Officer at Instructure, said the move allows students to use AI for learning in meaningful ways without concerns over cheating.
“Students want to learn in ways that are relevant and engaging,” Loble said. “This integration lets them use AI to deepen their understanding and stay involved in the classroom.”
Instructure’s new “LLM-Enabled Assignment” feature uses OpenAI’s large language models to create chat-based experiences tailored to individual students’ needs. Teachers describe learning goals in plain language, and the platform generates AI-driven conversations aligned with those objectives.
Leah Belsky, Vice President of Education at OpenAI, said the partnership aims to deliver more personalized learning while freeing teachers to focus on human-centered instruction.
For example, students could interact with an AI avatar of economist John Maynard Keynes to explore economic concepts through conversation.
As students engage with AI-driven lessons, their responses are evaluated against teacher-set goals and reflected in Canvas’ Gradebook, providing real-time insights into understanding beyond traditional test scores.
The AI tools also help teachers with administrative duties like adjusting deadlines or responding to parent inquiries. An AI assistant can summarize parent questions and draft replies for teacher review and approval.
Loble emphasized that teachers remain in full control of grading and assessments throughout the process.
This partnership follows similar efforts in the education sector, including Khan Academy’s launch of an AI-powered assistant, signaling growing acceptance of AI as a supportive classroom tool rather than just a means to cheat.
